Call for Papers, #GUF2018
Ohene Ofori
Ghana urban Forum, 2018 (#GUF2018)
It is a pleasure to invite you to the Ghana Urban Forum, 2018 (#GUF2018). The Forum is organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) and will take place at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel | Independence Ave | Accra 00233 | Ghana on Thursday, January 18, 2018.
Brief Description
In the context of an increasingly urbanised world, high dynamism in urban policies and programming is being experienced by developed and developing countries. This phenomenon is pronounced in emerging African countries, particularly in Ghana. This requires inclusive policy debates, integrated with sustained advocacy and capacity development efforts as well as cooperation and coordination among different actors.
The Ghana Urban Forum (GUF) platform is meant to support urban development processes in the country as well as contributing to international urban policy dialogues and strategies. Specific objectives include, amongst others:
1. Adding inclusivity to the urban development debate and related programming, promoting active participation, dialogue and consensus among all stakeholders
2. Provide broad-based and holistic substantive inputs to urban policies and programs
3. Advocate and raise awareness on the relevance and effectiveness of policies and plans to an extended audience
4. Increase understanding of sustainable urban development issues, including monitoring of national trends and impacts
5. Mobilize financial and political support to the National Urban Development processes;
6. Enhance capacity at national and local level through exchange of experiences and training
GUF is a multi-stakeholder platform, bringing together local governments, parliamentarians, civil society, indigenous peoples and local communities, the private sector, professionals and practitioners, the scientific and academic community, and other relevant stakeholders, to support sustainable urban development processes and debates at the country level; including feeding national contributions and participation to global development strategies; and builds on urban platforms and processes such as the World Urban Forum convened by UN-Habitat. The work of the GUF, which may include local, regional and national consultations, workshops and other capacity building and advocacy activities, is expected to culminate in a public national event in January 2018.
The theme of the #GUF2018 will be Localising the New Urban Agenda: Promoting Spatial Planning as a Pre-Requisite for Ghana’s current Industrialisation Drive.
Topics of interest
1. Industrial and Locational Policies for Urban Growth in Ghana | 2. Cities: Challenges and Opportunities of the 21st Century | 3. Accra, My City: Capital, Region or Metropolis? | 4. Urbanisation at the top of the Agenda
Guide for authors
We now invite interested individuals to submit their abstracts on any of the topics for consideration. All topics must respond appropriately to the main theme of the #GUF2018. Abstracts must be submitted in soft copy (one single PDF file per topic chosen), to the email address: of...@outlook.com
The deadline to submit abstracts is Monday, December 18, 2017. Notification of acceptance: Friday, December 22, 2017. Deadline for final paper submission: Monday, January 08, 2017.
For any enquiries regarding the programme, please contact: (024) 335-2076 | We look forward to seeing you at #GUF2018.
Sincerely: Head, Urban Development/MLGRD.